The Irish standard., 1887-10-22

to the schools Of Muckruss for knowl-
edge, and by their elders, who sought
there what was never refused them,
help for every need OF body
The venerable iyy-,nantled ruins of
abbey and church are before US. We
alighJ at the gate Of the enclosure which
protects the ruins with their cemetery
from the intrusion of man and beast.
All praise to the, Herberts OF Muckross
for having preserved this sacrsd spot
from the shameful Dissertation which L
have witnessed at Kildare, Ardnore,
and other places in Ireland, where
what is left Of the holy house of Goo
and the crowded resting places Of the
dead are left open to the herds aud
tiocks, and the remains OF ancient
sculpture and architecture are Nude]y
aefaced on destroyed by visitors WHO
have learned to respect nothing.
The Abbey of a1uckross as it Tow
stands was in the possession OF the Fran
ciscans from lS4o down to its suppress
sion. But long before the foundation
OF the Franciscan Order {l2!s}, there
was a church here With it's lnyariable
accompaniment; III Ireland, "a community
Of priests and schools for the youth of
the surrounding population. 1t is onlJ
putting the reality before the eyes OF
ths imagination to say That the prisui:-
tive church ediGca and the schools
which preceded yoader massive s'trnct~
ure Of stone were Of wood The whole
Island, FROM the age ct ST. Patrick and
his disciple, ST. Columbkille, was
coyered with lovdly forests and benealh
their shade were multiplied churches
and schools to accommodate the people
and communities of psitssts and monks
to minister to the peoples appetite for
sacred and profaue learning.
The cloister, with its fou: sides Of
arched walks. was but 8. small clojstey;
and the corrA,Eors were neither very
wide nor very elevated. They were
made to be warm in winter and cool in
summer. In Ihe center is one Of The
largest yew trees ii the United King
dom. The wide~spreading branches
now project beyond the area OF tlae s,;l
rounding quadrangle. AVheu was it
planted? 1t was |,up 81 feeble sapliug
when it Evst took root in the hpspitahia
abode of pie1y, charity and learning.
It has survived The obscure and f'e
voted community which believed Itself
secure from :lli the passions and perse
cutions Of earth.
The church iis fooi2t:Ss AS we'll as the
With It's adjoining toresteria
or st1ungers' abode. 1t is divided intG,
monks church, ;7itla its choir and sf.ilc~
tuafv, and the nave reserved for the
people; spacious ,xanacept WAS plot~
ably set apart for those belonging to the
Franciscan Third Order.
The cemetery has never ceased 1c be
the cherisEd burial ground Of the XII.
';arney Catholics. Their attachment to
it is only ona Of the touching features
Of a deeply religious, prosecuted. ard
patriotic people.
But have been carried away by she
Of the far distant past ifrola ing
subject, We passed cur
rom the abbey ruins to continue our
tour through The park: which embraces
,lle middle lake and the mainland. No
description could do justice to these
most beautiful grounds, to ths variety
IF trees, shrubs, exquisite scenery. to
he spots to which legend and anec-
lote are attached.
We ended by the Tore WATERFALL one =.
If the pietSiest, sweetest spots ever V"
created by nature and improved by
he hand Of man.
And this is only glimpse Of glorious
killarney.